The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-09-03

- -~~>H~
Weep not 70 see the grave which waits It's
guest;
And feeling round our feet the COOL sweet clay,
We speak the fading world farewell and say:
Not Oh this side--alas ~ shall find rest
little further on
-Ro0srf Burns Whoa in Century Ndgazins
e -
SIDEWALK DRUMMERS.
How the Unwary Granger is "Per-
suaded' to Buy.
Tricks Of Trade Peculiar to Some OF tho
Smaller Clothing Storcs-How the Run
ners Settle Thor Disputes.
There is no class Of business men in
q large city among whom competition
Is so great as among the proprictors Of
the smaller clothing stores. 1t is this
competition that gives to the COM
munity an interesting class Of people
the clothing house runners or ropers.
Their business is to lariat strangers
passing on the street and steer them
into their house and sell them goods,
whether they want any thing or not.
The bunko-steercrs and the cappcrs Of
brace faro games in the good old
gambling days were not able to hold a
candle to these clearinghouse cappers.
The pedestrian will find them by scores
along Franklin avenue. and several of
them may be seen in front of clothing
stores on Fourth and Fifth streets.
They generally take up position be-
tween the dummies, on which the fair
est specimens of the houses goods are
displayed in front, and there they lie
in wait for the unsuspccting victim. or
else bawl and scream at passers-by to
s'stcp in and examine the fine stock of
goods lately received, at prices so low
that they're ashamed to mark them on
the goods for fear the opposition might
catch on
The other day representative of
the Glode-Democrat stood near 'glod-
ink stoare" and watched the festive
runner plying his avocation. He stood
right in line with the dummies, and
Was almost as rigid as they, except
when he fell into a few steps Of clog
dance and watched his feet A granger
hove into view down the street, and
the runner smclled him, it seemed, for
he just broke into smile, and pulled
down his cuffs and threw out his arms,
as though preparing for great physi-
cal feat. Dissemination was stamped
upon his face, and as the granger came
slowly along the settled look became
stronger, and it BODIED no good to the
nnsuspccting individual approaching
his fate. Mr.. Granger had on straw
hat Of pipe-clay hue, with holes in the
rim and dents in the crown and sweat
stains on the faded band. His panta-
looms were of the butternut order, and
there was wealth of them behind
which the utmost tension Of his sus-
pcnders failed to raise upward. His
coat was of the same style, and his
boots. as they fell upon the walk, gave
forth sounds like those of pounding the
head Of barrel He spicd the dummies
and eyed them critically. He smiled
and view himself from his shoulders to
his toes. He lookcdfsback at the dunn
mics and completed his mental COM
parison. He reached out his hand
rather hcsitatingly, as if he feared he
was violating some law, and felt the
goods on the coat, rubbing it between
his forcfingcr and thumb.
Swoop! the gunner was on him. He
grabbed his arm and he shook his hand !;
he pattcd his back and he pointed to
the dummies and remarked that there
was coincidence that one of the dunn
mics had whiskers just like the gran
ger, though they were not subject to
the sportivc winds, as his were.
Fine suit you want. sir? We've
got en-, finest on earth, straight from
New York last week and cheap as dirt.
Ono like this on this blonde here g.;
this one on this dude S3-all kinds Of
suits; all kinds Of prices Step right
In; step right in"
The latter part of the invitation was
entirely unnecessary, for from the time
he laid hands on the visitor he had been
pushing him to the door and had finally
got the bewildered man inside. He
started to exp ain, but he wasn't al
lowed to open his mouth at all. He
was shown the clothes scattered on the
tables He was invited to inspect a
specially fine pair of green pants,
which the clerk frisked out of heap of
goods and threw open with snap like
a whip and then put the waist up under
his chin and began stroking at the
creased legs with either hand.
The granger didn't want any pants,
he rcckoncd.
Well, may be he wanted vest?
No.
Well, then, coatp
No, he rcckoncd he'd come round
again. or look somewhere else before
purchasing.
He started to go, but the roper con-
4rontcd him and he paused. Things
were gettingdesperate. They told him
that II he tackled any other house in
town they'd rob HIM. and perhaps
throw his manglcd remains into a
sewer. They had clothes right there
mai he wouldn't find their like again
anywhere, not even in New York. He
should look. Their mission was to
please. and it was no trouble to show
goods
So they took him away back behind
great big mountain Of clothes and
while one bowed and scraped before
him the other chartered and jabbercd
behind him. They called him Cool
onel'' and Major" and Judge" His
doom was sealed.
Presently they turned him out, and
10! the granger chrysalis bad been me-
talnorphosed into a gorgeous butterfly.
He had whole new suit--new coat,
new vest, new pants He gazcd At
himself 10 the mirror with utter be-
wilderment. He had coat that was